Eye drop dispensing system

ABSTRACT

An eye drop dispensing device includes a trough member with a space to receive a cartridge housing enclosing a collapsible bag containing an ophthalmic liquid and comprising a spring finger applying pressure to the bag. The bag includes a wall pierced by a needle coupling the liquid to pump means through a one-way valve. The pump means includes a plunger biased to a resting position establishing a dosage chamber. Actuator means moves the plunger to enlarge the dosage chamber, causing a drop in pressure which draws a predetermined quantity of the liquid through the one-way valve into the dosage chamber. The actuator means then releases the plunger so that it moves to compress the dosage chamber to pump the liquid in the dosage chamber through a second one-way valve to spray the liquid through pinholes formed in a nozzle angled to direct the liquid as eye drops to the user&#39;s eye. Another embodiment receives a cartridge housing enclosing three collapsible bags containing three different prescription ophthalmic drug solutions. The embodiment includes three shuttle pumps which are controlled by a common control member to dispense the solutions simultaneously into the patient&#39;s eye.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/776,782, filed Feb. 6, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to an eye drop dispensing system, and, more particularly, to a portable, compact, low-cost eye drop dispensing system using a simple spring-powered pump to spray a predetermined quantity of an ophthalmic liquid into a user's eye.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,410, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, shows portable eye wash systems intended for use in an emergency. These systems include a fluid reservoir having a flexible squeeze container mounted on a housing and a trough pivoted at one end to the housing. An eye piece at the other end of the trough is engaged with the user's face adjacent his eye. For enabling the user to view his eye, a mirror is mounted on the housing. A fluid line extends from the housing along the trough to a spray outlet on the trough positioned to spray the user's eye.

[0006] Another portable eye wash system is shown in copending application Ser. No. 09/472,248, filed Dec. 27, 1999, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In order to facilitate single drop dosing in the system of Ser. No. 09/472,2481, two embodiments of metering spray nozzles are disclosed.

[0007] Py U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,929 shows an ocular vial for applying a 20 microliter drop of medicament into the user's eye. A supply cavity feeds the liquid to a drop cavity which is then closed by a piston. When the piston is depressed, the drop is applied through an orifice. This device is a complex eye dropper which does not spray the liquid into the user's eye and includes no means for positioning a spray outlet relative to the user's eye.

[0008] Py U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,986 also shows a dispenser including a drop cavity which holds a predetermined volume of fluid to be emitted in the form of a drop. A spring causes expansion of the dispenser to emit a drop through a nozzle. A projecting finger is engaged with the user's eyelid.

[0009] Py U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,452 also uses an eyepiece for properly positioning a medicament dispenser. An outer housing is slidably engaged over an inner housing to force the closed end of the vial towards the nozzle and displace a predetermined volume of medicament through a nozzle.

[0010] Landsberger et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,384 show an eyewash system including a pump operated by batteries.

[0011] Vo U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,306 provides an eye drop delivery system which ejects eye drops through nozzles mounted on the frame of a pair of glasses. A fluid reservoir and fluid driving means are located in a separate case.

[0012] Akiyama et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,689 show injecting apparatus held against a living body and including a reservoir in the form of a bag containing a medical liquid. A needle penetrates a thickened portion of the bag to permit flow of the liquid through a conduit. The liquid is pumped by pump means driven by movement of the living body.

[0013] Rohrbough U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,258 shows a reservoir module for a drug delivery system. A medicament vial is closed at one end by a penetrable stopper. A hollow needle pierces the stopper and provides a flow path to a peristaltic pump.

[0014] Moss et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,190 provide a cassette assembly for an ambulatory medical infusion pump with a reservoir bag having a tube squeezable by a pump mechanism.

[0015] Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,252 discloses a peristaltic drug pump.

[0016] As will be apparent from a review of the prior art, the pump-assisted delivery of an accurate dose of an ophthalmic rinse or medicament solution or, more generally, the pump-assisted delivery of medication to a body, have required the use of electric power or, in one case, power derived from movement of the body. It also appears from the prior act that there is a need for a cartridge enclosing a collapsible bag or container for the ophthalmic liquid which is convenient to insert and replace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved portable, low cost eye drop dispensing system with pump-assisted delivery of a predetermined quantity of an ophthalmic liquid as an accurate dose to an eye.

[0018] It is an additional object to provide an eye drop dispensing system with a readily replaceable cartridge enclosing a collapsible bag or chamber for the ophthalmic liquid. The cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having a spring finger formed in its top wall applying positive pressure to the collapsible chamber. The collapsible chamber has a piercable entry wall positioned to be pierced by a hollow needle extending through an opening in the cartridge housing for feeding the liquid to pump means for spraying the liquid into a user's eye.

[0019] It is a further object to provide a first embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system with improved pump means for delivering eye drops through a spray nozzle to a user's eye. The pump means comprises a plunger, having a piston head movable in a cylindrical bore. The plunger is spring biased to move the piston head to a resting position in the bore, the piston head forming a wall of a dosage chamber. Actuator means is engaged by the user to engage and move the plunger in a direction expanding the dosage chamber and thereby creating negative pressure in the dosage chamber. This causes the ophthalmic liquid to flow from a liquid reservoir through a one-way valve into the dosage chamber. After the actuator means has moved the plunger a predetermined distance, an arm on the actuator means engages a sloped surface or ramp to move the actuator means out of engagement with the plunger allowing the plunger to be driven by the biasing spring to move the piston head in a direction to compress the dosage chamber and pump a predetermining dose of the ophthalmic liquid out of the dosage chamber through a second one-way valve and through a spray nozzle into the user's eye.

[0020] The spray nozzle comprises a nozzle chamber with an end wall having a plurality of pin holes through which the liquid is sprayed. The nozzle chamber is angled to direct the liquid to the user's eye.

[0021] The eye drop dispensing system includes a trough member with an eye piece formed on a wall at the front end of the trough member. A spray space is formed in the trough member behind the wall, and a pump housing is positioned in the trough member behind the spray space. The pump means is located within the pump housing. A cartridge receiving space is provided in the trough member between the rear end of the trough member and the pump housing. The cartridge housing is removably received in the cartridge receiving space from the rear end of the trough member. The spray nozzle is mounted at the front end of the pump housing to spray the liquid through the spray space into a user's eye positioned above the eye piece.

[0022] The eye drop dispensing system of the first embodiment teaches dispensing a single ophthalmic liquid or medicament solution into the user's eye. However, it is necessary for the treatment of some eye conditions, such as glaucoma, dry eyes or infections, to dispense a plurality of prescription drug solutions into the user's eye. For example, in the treatment of glaucoma it is desirable to simultaneously dispense three prescription medicament solutions, such as scopolamine, timolol and prostaglandin agonists to the patient's eye. It is possible to do so using a second embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system of the invention.

[0023] In this embodiment, the cartridge receiving space is adapted to receive three readily replaceable cartridges, each comprising a collapsible container for containing one of three ophthalmic liquids or medicament solutions. The cartridge housing has a spring finger formed in its top wall applying positive pressure on the collapsible chambers. Each of the collapsible chambers has a piercable entry wall positioned to be pierced by a respective hollow needle extending through an opening in the cartridge housing for feeding liquids from the respective collapsible chamber to individual pump means for spraying the liquids into a user's eye.

[0024] Each of the pump means may comprise a shuttle pump having an actuator arm engaged with a plunger shaft reciprocable within an inner shuttle chamber, which in turn is reciprocable within an outer shuttle chamber. A coil spring is positioned between an end of the outer shuttle chamber and the actuator arm to bias the actuator arm to an outward position.

[0025] Each hollow needle extends from a respective outer shuttle chamber to which it feeds the ophthalmic liquid or medicament from a respective collapsible chamber. As an actuator arm is biased to its outward position, the inner shuttle chamber is pulled by the plunger to a position in which an opening into the inner shuttle chamber is aligned with the hollow needle, and since the outward movement of the plunger causes a drop in the pressure within the inner shuttle chamber, the liquid is drawn from the hollow needle to fill the inner shuttle chamber with an appropriate dose of the liquid. When the actuator arm is then depressed, the piston moves toward the far end of the inner shuttle chamber to pressurize the liquid within the inner shuttle chamber and force the inner shuttle chamber to move within the outer shuttle chamber until an outlet opening from the inner shuttle chamber aligns with an outlet conduit leading to the nozzle forcing the liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle into the user's eye. When the actuator arm is released, it is again biased to the outward position to again draw the liquid into the inner shuttle chamber.

[0026] A single control member projects from the housing and is connected to a control rod from which the respective actuator arms extend. A spring biases the control member outwardly of the housing allowing each of the actuator arms to be biased to their outward positions. When the control member is depressed, each of the actuator arms is depressed as well, forcing the liquids from the inner shuttle chamber of each pump through respective conduits to the nozzle and into the user's eye.

[0027] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system of the invention with the cover pivoted to an open position;

[0029]FIG. 2 is an exploded view corresponding to the perspective view of FIG. 1;

[0030]FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in cross section, of the system of the invention;

[0031]FIG. 4 is a top view showing the trough member of the system;

[0032]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view, with parts broken away, showing a cartridge housing in position to be inserted into the trough member of the system;

[0033]FIG. 6A is a partial cross section view along line 6-6 of FIG. 8 of the pump means of the system in its resting position;

[0034]FIG. 6B is a cross section view corresponding to FIG. 6A of the pump means after a user has partially depressed the actuator button with the plunger raised;

[0035]FIG. 6C is a cross section view corresponding to FIG. 6A of the pump means with the plunger moving back into the dosage chamber and the actuator button fully depressed with the central lifting arm portion of the actuator moved out of engagement with the head of the plunger;

[0036]FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view showing the central engagement arm of the actuator means engaged with the head of the plunger;

[0037]FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view showing the plunger in its raised position with the side engagement arms of the actuator engaged with sloping surfaces so that the actuator is moved laterally with the central lifting arm portion still engaged with the head of the plunger;

[0038]FIG. 7C is a partial perspective view showing the side engagement arms of the actuator engaged with the sloping surfaces so that the actuator is moved laterally with the central lifting arm portion moved free of the head of the plunger and with the plunger moving back into the dosage chamber;

[0039]FIG. 8 is a partial cross section view along line 8-8 of FIG. 6A;

[0040]FIG. 9 is a partial cross section view showing the seal engaged with the spray nozzle;

[0041]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system of the invention with the cover pivoted to an open position;

[0042]FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

[0043]FIG. 12 is a partial exploded view corresponding to the view of FIG. 11, but with the cartridges in position within the housing;

[0044]FIG. 13 is a schematic section view of the pump means of the embodiment of FIG. 10 with the plunger retracted;

[0045]FIG. 14 is a schematic section view corresponding to the view of FIG. 13, but with the plunger partially depressed;

[0046]FIG. 15 is a schematic section view corresponding to the view of FIG. 13, but with the plunger fully depressed;

[0047]FIG. 16 is a schematic section view showing the common control member in its retracted position; and

[0048]FIG. 17 is a schematic section view corresponding to FIG. 16, but with the control member depressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a first embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system 10 of the invention includes a trough 12 having a front end wall 14 on which an arcuate eye piece 16 is formed. As is known in the art, eye piece 16 will be positioned on a user's face just below an eye to be treated.

[0050] A spray space 18 is positioned in trough 12 behind wall 14, and a spray nozzle 20 is located in spray space 18. As will be explained in more detail below, spray nozzle 20 is mounted to receive ophthalmic liquid to be sprayed from pump means located within a pump housing 22 located behind spray space 18.

[0051] A cartridge receiving space 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is positioned behind pump housing 22. In order to receive a cartridge housing 26, the bottom wall 28 of cartridge receiving space 24 has a pair of guide grooves 30 and 31 (see FIG. 5) and side walls 32 and 34 (see FIG. 2) each of which has a guide groove 36 (only one of which is seen).

[0052] Cartridge housing 26 comprises a top wall 38 (see FIG. 3) from which a spring finger 40 is cut, having a base portion 42 (see FIG. 1) connected to top wall 38 at the front end of housing 26. As best seen in FIG. 3, spring finger 40 applies positive pressure to a collapsible bag or chamber 42 formed of a resilient material, such as silicone rubber, and containing the ophthalmic liquid 44.

[0053] In order to provide access to liquid 44 within chamber 42, the front end of collapsible bag 42 is provided with a piercable entry wall 46, closing a neck portion 47 (see FIG. 2) of collapsible bag 42. As seen in FIG. 5, a hollow needle 48 extends through an opening 50 at the front end of housing 26. Neck portion 47 of bag 42 is seated in opening 50.

[0054] Cartridge housing 26 has parallel rails 52 and 53 (see FIG. 2) extending downwardly from its bottom wall and fitting in guide grooves 30 and 31, respectively. Side rails 54 are provided on the outer surfaces of side walls 56 and 57. These are received in respective side grooves 36. The rear ends of side rails 54 are formed as resilient catches 58 to secure cartridge housing 26 in cartridge receiving space 24 by cooperating with posts 59 and notches 62 and 63 formed at the rear ends of side grooves 36.

[0055] Cartridge housing 26 is slid into cartridge receiving space 24 through an opening 60 at the rear end of trough 12 with rails 52, 53 and 54 engaged in guide grooves 30, 31 and 36. When cartridge housing 26 is fully inserted, hollow needle 48 pierces piercable entry wall 46. In this way, ophthalmic liquid 44 is made available for pump means within pump housing 22. When cartridge housing 26 is fully inserted, resilient catches 58 engage notches 62 and 63 at the ends of grooves 36 (see FIG. 5) to retain cartridge housing 26 in cartridge receiving space 24.

[0056] As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, pump means 64 is received in pump housing 22 through an opening 66 through the bottom wall 28 of trough 12. Turning to FIG. 6A, which shows pump means 64 in its resting position, pump means 64 comprises a dosage chamber 68 at the bottom of a cylindrical bore 70. A plunger 72 is movable within bore 70 and is biased towards the bottom end (as seen in FIG. 6A) by a spring 74 which is engaged between the top wall 76 of bore 70 and a flange or lip 78 at the bottom end of plunger 72. Flange 78 is so configured and dimensioned that it is movable up and down in bore 70, serving as a piston head 79 forming the top wall of dosage chamber 68. Plunger 72 has a rod extension 80 of smaller diameter below piston head 79. An O-ring cushion 82 embraces the lower end of rod 80, resting, in part, on a flange or lip 81 at the bottom end of rod 80. When plunger is in its resting position, flange 81 is received in a bore 87 in end wall 86, while O-ring 82 rests, in part, on the portion of end wall 86 surrounding bore 87. An O-ring 84 seals chamber 68 where it terminates at end wall 86.

[0057] Hollow needle 48 is mounted at one end in a bore 88 in a ring 90. Bore 88 leads to a valve chamber 92 of a one-way valve 94, which comprises a ball 96 which is biased by a spring 98 to a closed position in which ball 96 is pressed against an O-ring 100. One way valve 94, when open, permits liquid to flow into dosage chamber 68 through inlet passageway 102.

[0058] A second one-way valve 104 is positioned in outlet passageway 106 extending from dosage chamber 68 through outlet member 107 and comprises a valve ball 108 which is biased by a spring 110 to a closed position pressing against O-ring 112. Beyond valve 104, outlet passageway 106 extends through a thick-walled portion 114 of member 107 and then through a thin walled outlet portion 116. A tapered connector ring 117 is formed on the outer side of outlet portion 116. As seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, nozzle member 20 has an inlet portion 118 with an inlet passageway 120. Nozzle member 20 is formed of a plastic material, such as ABS or polypropelene, which permits inlet portion 118 to be slipped over the end of outlet portion 116 and snap over tapered ring 117 to secure nozzle 118 on outlet portion 116.

[0059] Pump means 64 also includes acuator means 122. An actuator button 124 projects from one side of pump means 64 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C and 8) and is mounted on an end of actuator rod 126 and is biased outwardly of pump means 64 by a spring 128.

[0060] As seen in FIG. 8, rod 126 extends into a bore 130 and is surrounded by spring 128 within bore 130. Rod 126 is widened to form a shoulder 132 against which one end of spring 128 presses, the other end pressing against the inside surface of button 124. An extension 134 of actuator rod 126 extends through a rectangular extension 136 of bore 130. As seen in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, extension 134 terminates in an actuator arm member 138 which has lateral arm portions 140 and 141 and a lifting arm portion 142.

[0061] As best seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, and 8, screw members 144 and 145 are positioned near arm member 138 so that respective sloped surfaces or ramps 146 and 147 will become engaged with respective arm portions 140 and 141 as arm member 138 is raised, as will be presently explained.

[0062] It will be noted that the upper end (as seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C) or plunger 72 is provided with an enlarged head 150 forming a lip 152 which, as will be explained below, will be engaged by lifting arm portion 142 to lift plunger 72.

[0063] Spray nozzle 20, as mentioned above, includes an inlet portion 118 which slips over outlet portion 116 of pump means 64. Inlet portion 118 is connected to a tubular angled portion 154, which is tipped an angle of 45 degrees to inlet portion 118, and which, in turn, is connected to a hollow cylindrical nozzle chamber member 156. An end wall 158 closes hollow chamber member 156. In order to enable spraying of the ophthalmic liquid, a plurality of pinholes 160 are provided through end wall 158. When spray nozzle 20 is mounted on outlet member 107, the angled portion 154 will so position end wall 158 that the liquid will spray through pinholes 160 in a direction to enter a user's eye when eye piece 16 is positioned just beneath the user's eye.

[0064] The device includes a cover 162 which includes a pair of pivot holes 164 and 165 adjacent one end. These pivot holes are mounted on pivot pins 166 and 167 which project from respective side walls 34 and 32 of trough 12 adjacent the rear end thereof. Cover 162 has a pair of side walls 168 and 169 which, when cover 162 is in its closed position, fit just outside the outer sides of side walls 34 and 32, respectively, of trough 12. The front end of cover 162 (the end opposite the pivoted end) has an end wall 170 having an arcuate edge 172 which is complementary to and is received on the arcuate surface of eye piece 16.

[0065] As is known in the art, a mirror 174 is glued to the inner side 176 of a top wall 178 of cover 162. Mirror 174 is so placed that a user who has placed eye piece 16 beneath his or her eye will be assisted in properly positioning the device by observing his or her eye in mirror 174.

[0066] A seal 180 is formed on inner surface 176 of top wall 178 and has a sealing surface 182 (see FIG. 3) which is so positioned and angled that, when cover 162 is in its closed position, sealing surface 182 abuts and seals end wall 158 and pinholes 160 of nozzle 20. In order to enhance the sealing function of seal 180, it is provided with a peripheral lip 184 which, when cover 162 is in its closed position, snugly embraces nozzle end portion 156.

[0067] When eye drop dispensing system 10 is used, the user must first insert a cartridge housing 26 in cartridge receiving space 24. This is accomplished by inserting housing 26 into space 24 through rear opening 60 of trough 12. With the end wall 51 of cartridge housing 26 through which opening 50 extends being inserted into opening 60 first, bottom rails 52 and 53 are engaged with guide grooves 30 and 31, respectively, in bottom wall 28 of trough 12 and side rails 54 and 56 are engaged with side grooves 36 formed in side walls 32 and 34 of trough 12. Cartridge housing is then slid forward until piercable end wall 46 of collapsible bag 42 is pierced by needle 48 extending rearwardly from pump housing 22. This couples collapsible bag with valve chamber 92 of one-way valve 94. As mentioned above, spring finger 40 of cartridge housing 26 applies pressure upon collapsible bag 42. However, this pressure is not sufficient to permit the fluid 44 in bag 42 to overcome the bias provided in one-way valve 94 by spring 98. Rather, the pressure on bag 42 primes one way valve 94 to make it more responsive to a drop in pressure in dosage chamber 68 upon movement of plunger 72 as will presently be described.

[0068] The normal resting position of plunger 72 is shown in FIG. 6A. Bias spring 74 is engaged with flange 78 at the lower end of plunger 72 and biases plunger 72 to its lowest position with piston head 78 seated in bore 70 above dosage chamber 68. This lowest position is established by the engagement of O-ring 82 with wall 86. At this time, lifting arm portion 142 of actuator arm member 138 is spaced below the underside of lip 152 of plunger head 150 as shown in FIG. 7A.

[0069] When the user presses actuator button 124, the bias of spring 128 is overcome and rod extension 134 and lifting arm portion 142 are lifted until lifting arm portion 142 engages the underside of plunger head lip 152, as shown in FIG. 7B, causing plunger 72 to be lifted overcoming the bias of spring 74. At the same time, arm portions 140 and 141 engage sloped or ramp surfaces 146 and 147 of screws 144 and 145, respectively. This engagement causes lateral movement of arm member 138 away from plunger 72, but, as shown in FIG. 7B, lifting arm portion 142 is not yet free of engagement with underside 152 of plunger head 150. As is shown in FIGS. 6B, lifting arm portion 142 has brought plunger 72 to a raised position while raising piston head 79 and enlarging dosage chamber 68. This results in a drop in pressure within dosage chamber 68. This drop in pressure to the left of ball 96, when added to the positive pressure applied to the right side of ball 96 by liquid in passageway 88 by virtue of the pressure applied to collapsible bag 42 by spring finger 40, is sufficient to overcome the bias of spring 98 and force valve ball 96 to move off O-ring 100 opening one-way valve 94. Ophthalmic liquid 44 then flows from bag 42 into dosage chamber 68 to fill chamber 68 with the proper dosage of the eye drops to be sprayed into the user's eye.

[0070] As actuator rod extension 134 is further raised, arm portions 140 and 141 slide further up ramp surfaces 146 and 147, respectively. This causes arm portions 140 and 141 and, with them, actuator arm extension 134, to move further away from plunger 72 until, as shown in FIG. 7C, head 150 becomes free of and disengaged from lifting arm portion 142. At this time, bias spring 74 drives plunger 72 downwardly to move piston head 79 in a direction compressing dosage chamber 68, as shown in FIG. 6C. As chamber 68 is compressed, the pressure within dosage chamber 68 increases forcing valve ball 108 of one-way valve 104 to overcome the bias of spring 110 and open one-way valve 104. This permits the ophthalmic liquid to flow from dosage chamber 68 into outlet member 107 and thin walled outlet portion 116 into inlet passage 120 of nozzle 20. Being under pressure, the liquid flows through nozzle 20 and pinholes 160 and is sprayed as eye drops into the user's eye.

[0071] Movement of plunger 72 under the influence of bias spring 74 continues until plunger 72 is returned to the resting position of FIG. 6A. When O-ring 82 comes into contact with the portion of end wall 86 surrounding bore 87, the impact is cushioned by the elastomeric material from which O-ring 82 is made.

[0072] After lifting arm portion 142 is moved free of plunger head 150, the user releases actuator button 124. Bias spring 128 then moves actuator rod 126 and actuator rod extension 134 back to their resting positions as shown in FIGS. 6A, 7A and 8.

[0073] It will be observed that the quantity of ophthalmic liquid drawn into dosage chamber 68 is governed by the length of the upward stroke of plunger 72 and that the length of this upward stroke is determined by the placement of ramp surfaces 146 and 147, which establish when arm lifting portion 142 is moved free of plunger head 150. Thus, when the user presses actuator button 124, a predetermined quantity of the ophthalmic liquid is drawn into dosage chamber 68 and the same predetermined quantity is sprayed as eye drops into the user's eye.

[0074] Although the body of pump means 64, in which bore 70 and dosage chamber 68 are formed, and plunger 72, including flange 78, piston head 79 and rod extension 80, and actuator means parts 124, 126, 134 and 138 may be formed of metal, it is more economical, and therefore preferable, to form these parts of a plastic material, such as ABS or polypropelene. Because valve springs 98 and 110 are formed of stainless steel, there is no concern that these springs will be degraded by contact with the ophthalmic liquid flowing through the valves. However, bias spring 74, which is shielded from the ophthalmic liquid in dosage chamber 68 by flange 78, and bias spring 128, which also does not come in contact with the ophthalmic liquid, may be made of a more economical resilient material, such as polythelene. O-rings 82, 84, 100, and 112 may be formed of rubber or silicone rubber. Valve balls 94 and 108 may be formed of stainless steel, ABS, or polypropelene.

[0075] A second embodiment of an eye drop dispensing system of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10-17, wherein parts corresponding to identical parts in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 use identical reference numbers. The eye drop dispensing system 210 of the second embodiment includes a trough 12 having a front end wall 14 on which an arcuate eye piece 16 is formed. As is known in the art, eye piece 16 will be positioned on a user's face just below an eye to be treated.

[0076] A spray space 18 is positioned in trough 12 behind wall 14, and a spray nozzle 220 is located in spray space 18. As will be explained in more detail below, spray nozzle 220 is mounted to receive ophthalmic liquid to be sprayed from three pumps, 64 a, 64 b and 64 c, located within a pump housing 222 located behind spray space 18.

[0077] A cartridge receiving space 24 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) is positioned behind pump housing 222. In order to receive a cartridge housing 226, the bottom wall 28 of cartridge receiving space 24 has a pair of guide grooves 30 and 31 (see FIG. 12) and side walls 32 and 34 (see FIG. 11) each of which has a guide groove 36 (only one of which is seen).

[0078] Cartridge housing 226 comprises a top wall 38 (see FIG. 3) from which a spring finger 40 is cut, having a base portion 42 (see FIG. 10) connected to top wall 38 at the front end of housing 226. As best seen in FIG. 12, spring finger 40 applies positive pressure to three collapsible bags or chambers 42 a, 42 b and 42 c formed of a resilient material, such as silicone rubber, and containing the ophthalmic liquid.

[0079] In order to provide access to liquid within chamber 42, the front ends of collapsible bags 42 a, 42 b and 42 c are provided with piercable entry walls 46 a, 46 b and 46 c closing neck portions 47 a, 47 b and 47 c of the collapsible bags. As seen in FIGS. 12, 16 and 17, hollow needles 48 a, 48 b and 48 c extend through openings 50 a, 50 b and 50 c at the front end of housing 226. Neck portions 47 a, 47 b and 47 c of bags 42 a, 42 b and 42 c are seated in openings 50 a, 50 b and 50 c.

[0080] Cartridge housing 226 has parallel rails 52 and 53 (see FIG. 11) extending downwardly from its bottom wall and fitting in guide grooves 30 and 31, respectively. Side rails 54 are provided on the outer surfaces of side walls 56 and 57. These are received in respective side grooves 36. The rear ends of side rails 54 are formed as resilient catches 58 to secure cartridge housing 226 in cartridge receiving space 24 by cooperating with posts 59 and notches 62 and 63 formed at the rear ends of side grooves 36.

[0081] Cartridge housing 226 is slid into cartridge receiving space 24 through an opening 60 at the rear end of trough 12 with rails 52, 53 and 54 engaged in guide grooves 30, 31 and 36. When cartridge housing 226 is fully inserted, hollow needles 48 a, 48 b and 48 c pierce piercable entry walls 46 a, 46 b and 46 c. In this way, ophthalmic liquid is made available for pump means within pump housing 22. When cartridge housing 226 is fully inserted, resilient catches 58 engage notches 62 and 63 at the ends of grooves 36 to retain cartridge housing 226 in cartridge receiving space 24.

[0082] Pump means is received in pump housing 222 through an opening through the bottom wall of trough 12. Three separate pumps 64 a, 64 b and 64 c are included within pump means 64.

[0083] Turning to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, pump means 64 a is shown as a shuttle pump and is identical to pump means 64 b and 64 c. An outer shuttle chamber 230 has an inlet opening 232 connected to hollow needle 48 a and has an outlet opening 234 connected to an outlet conduit 116 a leading to an outlet opening 236 a of nozzle 220. An inner shuttle chamber 240 is positioned for reciprocation within outer shuttle housing 230 and has an inlet opening 242 on a side facing inlet opening 232 and an outlet opening 244 on a side facing outlet opening 234. A plunger 250 is mounted on the end of a control shaft 252. A control arm 254 is engaged with the free end of shaft 252 and is biased to an outward, retracted position, as shown in FIG. 13 by a bias spring 256 which is engaged at one end to an end wall 258 of outer shuttle chamber 230 and at the other end with control arm 254. When, as will be explained below, control arm is depressed, as shown in FIG. 14, plunger 250 moves to compress the space in inner shuttle chamber 240 putting liquid within inner shuttle chamber 240 under pressure and forcing inner shuttle chamber to reciprocate in outer shuttle chamber 230 as shown in FIG. 14. As this movement continues, as shown in FIG. 15, outlet opening 244 is brought into alignment with outlet opening 234 pumping the liquid within inner shuttle chamber through conduit 116 a and nozzle 220 into the user's eye. When the pressure on control arm 254 is released, spring 256 returns control arm 254, control shaft 252 and plunger 240 back to the position shown in FIG. 13. This brings inlet opening 242 into alignment with inlet opening 232. Since the movement of plunger 250 to its retracted position results in a drop in pressure within inner shuttle chamber 240, the liquid within collapsible chamber 42 a is drawn through needle 48 a into inner shuttle chamber 240 ready to be dispensed into the user's eye the next time control arm 254 is depressed.

[0084] The manner in which a single control member 224 simultaneously controls the three pumps is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The control member 224 extends outside trough 12 and is mounted at the end of a control rod 260. A bias spring 262 is mounted between control member 224 and a wall of pump housing 222 and biases control member 224 and control rod 260 to an outward position shown in FIG. 16. Three control arms 254, 254 b and 254 c extend laterally from control rod 260 and are respectively engaged with control shafts 252, 252 b and 252 c. As shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 respective springs 256, 256 b and 256 c are engaged between the ends of outer shuttle chambers 230 and control arms 254, 254 b and 254 c to bias the control arms to a retracted position as shown in FIG. 16. When control member 224 is depressed by the user, control rod 260, which mounted to slide on bearings 270 and 271, is moved to move control arms 254, 254 b and 254 c in a direction to move plungers 250 as shown in FIG. 17. Thus, the actuation has the same effect as depressing three separate control arms simultaneously with the result that the prescription drug solutions in the respective collapsible containers and dispensed simultaneously into the user's eye.

[0085] Although the second embodiment as shown employs shuttle pump means, the type of pump used may vary. For example, simple mechanical piston pumps or peristaltic pumps may be used.

[0086] It should be understood that the foregoing description of the invention is intended merely to be illustrative and other modifications, embodiments and equivalents may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An eye drop dispensing system comprising: a trough member having a front end and a rear end; an eye piece formed on a wall at the front end of said trough member; a spray space formed in said trough member behind said wall; a pump housing positioned in said trough member behind said spray space and a plurality of pump means within said pump housing; a cartridge receiving space provided in said trough member between the rear end of said trough member and said pump housing; a cartridge housing removably received in said cartridge receiving space from said rear end of said trough; a plurality of liquid containers positioned in said cartridge housing, there being one of said containers for each said pump means; liquid coupling means coupling each of said liquid containers to a respective one of said pump means; and spray nozzle means mounted at the front end of said pump housing and coupled to receive the liquid output from each of said pump means and to spray said liquid output into a user's eye positioned above said eye piece.
 2. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said liquid containers are collapsible chambers and wherein said cartridge housing contains means to apply positive pressure to said collapsible chambers.
 3. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said means to apply positive pressure to said collapsible chamber comprises a spring finger formed in a top wall of said of said cartridge housing, said spring finger engaging and applying said positive pressure to said collapsible chambers.
 4. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said liquid containers are collapsible chambers and wherein said liquid coupling means comprises hollow needles extending through openings in each said cartridge housing to pierce said collapsible chambers.
 5. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 4, wherein each said collapsible chamber has a piercable entry wall and wherein a corresponding said hollow needle is positioned to pierce said entry wall when said cartridge housing is placed in said cartridge receiving space.
 6. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 1, wherein a single control member controls all of said pump means simultaneously.
 7. An eye drop dispensing system of claim 6, wherein said single control member comprises a control rod having a plurality of control arms, one for each pump means, and wherein actuation of said single control member causes said control arms to actuate said pump means to dispense liquid from each said liquid container to a user's eye.
 8. An eye drop dispenser of claim 7, wherein said pump means comprise shuttle pumps.
 9. An eye drop dispenser of claim 8, wherein said shuttle pumps comprise an outer shuttle chamber, an inner shuttle chamber, a plunger movable in said inner chamber when said control member is actuated to cause said inner chamber to move in said outer chamber to a position in which an outlet opening from said inner chamber is aligned with an outlet opening in said outer chamber to dispense the liquid in said inner chamber through said outlet openings to be sprayed in said user's eye.
 10. An eye drop dispenser of claim 9, wherein said pump means comprises bias means to cause said plunger to retract when said control member no longer actuates said pump means, wherein said retraction of said plunger causes said inner chamber to retract, and wherein said inner chamber has an inlet opening, said retraction if said inner chamber bringing said inlet opening into alignment with said liquid coupling means to draw liquid from said liquid container into said inner chamber.
 11. A system for dispensing a plurality of ophthalmic medicaments to a patient's eye, comprising; means for holding a plurality of containers, one for each said medicaments; means for coupling each of said containers to separate pump means; single control means for simultaneously activating said separate pump means to feed doses of said medicaments simultaneously to said patient's eye.
 12. A system for dispensing of claim 11, wherein each of said separate pump means has an activating member, and wherein said single control means comprises an actuator member mounted on an end of a control rod, a control arm for each pump means projecting from said control rod, each control arm being engaged with an activating member of a respective pump means, and means biasing said control rod and actuator member to a first position in which said control arms are in position to move, but do not move said respective activating members to a position causing activation of said respective pump means, said actuator member when depressed by a user causing said respective control arms to move and activate said respective pump means. 